Receiving Christ Qualifies Us as God’s Children

 “And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, “Now, Pilate was holding in custody a notorious criminal named Barabbas, one of the assassins who had committed murder in an uprising. The crowds gathered in front of Pilate’s judgment bench and asked him to release a prisoner to them, as was his custom.”  In Aramaic Bar-Abbas means “son of a father” or “son who is like his father”.  This is the picture of every son of Adam, our father.  The true Son of the Father was crucified that day.  One man wanted a political revolution, the Other a revolution of love filling the hearts of all men.  It is hard for us to understand and comprehend fully the loving heart of God by sending His Son to die in the place of the sons of Adam including Bar-Abbas.  This was to avert the judgment over mankind through the punishment that Jesus took.  Therefore, as many as received Jesus Christ, to them He gave the right to become children of our Father, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Behold what manner of love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are.  Amen!

Keep Sharing the Gospel Despite Opposition

 “A naughty person, a wicked man, Walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, He teacheth with his fingers;”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The wisdom from above says, “Here’s another life’s lesson to learn from observing the wayward and wicked man.  You can tell they are lawless.  They’re constant liars, proud deceivers, full of clever ploys and convincing plots.  In the Hebrew this gives a picture of those who wink their eyes, shuffle their feet, and point their fingers - such are the devious ways of the wicked.  Jesus encountered them when with such maliciousness, the Pharisees tried to entrap Him with a cunning ploy of asking whether Jews should pay tax to Rome or not!  Jesus knew they were testing Him and He silenced them completely.  The evil one was totally silenced when Jesus was sacrificed on the Cross as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.  Today the devil connives to stop believers from sharing the Gospel by sending his messengers to burn churches and stop believers by persecuting, imprisoning or even killing them.  But as Jesus said, “I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  The prophet prophesied “Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end..”. Hallelujah!

New Covenant, a Better Covenant Established on Better Promises

 “And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Mark records, Jesus said to them, “This is My Blood, which seals the new covenant poured out for many. I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the day comes when we drink it together in the Kingdom feast of My Father.”  This new covenant is a better covenant because it is established on better promises.  In this new covenant, God freely gives us forgiveness, life, salvation and every heavenly spiritual blessing.  Jesus serves His disciples the Bread and the Cup which means He is serving us His death and resurrection.  This is now our feast and constant supply of God’s life.  We are now in the realm of the Kingdom of God.  The Holy Spirit brings us into the Body of Christ and into the reality of God’s Kingdom realm.  It is growing and increasing in scope, and every time believers drink of the Cup of Communion, Jesus is present with us.  It is the Lord’s Table not ours.  Jesus now drinks with us in a new way, and not just once a year at Passover, but every time we worship Him by taking communion.  Amen!

The Only Way to Remove the Sting of Sin

 “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, And her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on hell.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Wisdom from above teaches, “Remember this: The lips of a seductress seem sweet like honey, and her smooth words are like music in your ears. But I promise you this: In the end all you’ll be left with is a bitter conscience. For the sting of your sin will pierce your soul like a sword. She will ruin your life, drag you down to death, and lead you straight to hell.”  This kind of person seduces, deceives and drags to hell.  For the believer, the promiscuous person can be a picture of the false anointing of the religious spirit that attempts to seduce us, weaken our message, and rob the anointing of God from our ministries.  Of course there is also a clear and dire warning for all to stay sexually pure or face the consequences.  Wormwood is bitterness and when bitterness and unforgiveness is harboured in the heart, conscience becomes hardened piercing the soul.  That life becomes a hellish experience dragging to death.  But the Gospel is, that the sacred Blood of the Messiah thoroughly cleanses our consciences! For by the power of the eternal Spirit He has offered Himself to God as the perfect Sacrifice that now frees us from our dead works to worship and serve the living God.  This is the only way to remove the sting of sin that makes our conscience bitter unto death - the perfect Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on your and my behalf and receiving the forgiveness of sin.  Amen!

Guard against Deception

 “And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, when Jesus sat on the mount of Olives overlooking the temple in Jerusalem, “Jesus answered, “At that time deception will run rampant. So beware that you’re not fooled! For many will appear on the scene claiming my authority or saying about themselves, ‘I am God’s Anointed,’ and they will lead many astray. You will hear rumors of wars nearby, with more rumors of wars to come. Make sure that you are not thrown into a panic or give in to your fears, for these things are destined to happen. Prepare for it, but still the end is not yet.”  Jesus prepared us for the times we’re living in.  Many will speak on behalf the Lord Jesus Christ but without the fruit of people coming into the Kingdom of God through the Gospel.  The strategy of satan is the same today as before, to make people believe a lie.  Jesus Christ is the ONLY  way to salvation but the compromise of this truth is so rampant that it puts the Cross of Christ to no effect.  The bleeding Christ on the Cross is a sign of weakness to the world but to us who believe, it is the power of God to salvation.  Sin is not a problem to the world but that is the reason why God came into the world to deal with it.  Anyone who indulges in sin lives in moral anarchy, for the definition of sin is breaking God’s law.  God’s commandment is what Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  It is the lack of love that causes hate, fear, wars and destruction.  Let’s believe Jesus and walk in faith, hope and love; the greatest power is love that forgave us our sins.  Amen!

Wisdom & Understanding is a Gift in God’s Word

 “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, Forsake ye not my law. Get wisdom, get understanding: Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The wisdom from above says, “Listen to my correction, my sons, for I speak to you as your father. Let discernment enter your heart and you will grow wise with the understanding I impart. My revelation-truth is a gift to you, so remain faithful to my instruction. So make wisdom your quest— search for the revelation of life’s meaning. Don’t let what I say go in one ear and out the other.”  We listen to God’s Word as though it is Jesus Christ speaking directly to us.  He is the Everlasting Father and we are called His sons.  Truly the Scriptures are a gift to us.  No other generation has had the availability of the Word of God with such ease as this generation.  It is however the revelation of the truth of God’s Word that is a gift and comes to us through our meditating on it day and night and doing what it says - that’s the secret of success in life.  The more time we spend with our Lord Jesus, the more we will receive revelation as Peter, James and John were revealed the glory of God at the mount when Jesus was transfigured and they heard the Father’s voice. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.  But of Him we are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.  Amen!

The Kingdom of God is a Present Reality

 “And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark recorded, “When Jesus noticed how thoughtfully and sincerely the man answered, He said to him, “You’re not far from the reality of God’s kingdom.” After that, no one dared to question him again.”  Jesus tells the man that the Kingdom of God is within reach.  It is a present reality, not just a far-off concept.  The religious scholars were hawk-eyed concerning Jesus, always questioning His authority and His interpretation of Scripture.  They taught a theology without the reality of Christ, the Messiah.  Today many preachers are caught in the trap of preaching and teaching Christ without a personal relationship with Him.  There is no fruit in such preaching and teaching.  Every teaching of the Kingdom of God needs to be weighed by the reality of Christ, not the traditions of men.  The fruit comes when we understand our mission is to open the eyes so that many may turn from darkness to light and from the kingdom of satan to the Kingdom of God; and that they may receive forgiveness of all their sins and have a place among those who are set apart for a holy purpose through having faith in the risen Christ Jesus.  Amen!

Jesus Christ to us is Wisdom, Health & Freedom from Sin

 “Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Proverbs is the wisdom we have in Christ, “Don’t think for a moment that you know it all, for wisdom comes when you adore Him with undivided devotion and avoid everything that’s wrong. Then you will find the healing refreshment your body and spirit long for.”  Fearing the LORD is making a will decision to avoid everything wrong and to depart from evil, so that we can love and adore Him with true focus, not distracted by anything or anyone.  The knowledge that God gives through His Word is amazing!  Health is in our navel as every baby in the womb gets the blood supply through the navel.  New cells are made in the marrow of our bones.  As the navel and bones picture the life flow of our bodies, so the navel and bones are a picture of our inner being.  Jesus told us “Believe in Me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!” Jesus was prophesying about the Holy Spirit that believers were being prepared to receive. But the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out upon them, because Jesus had not yet been unveiled in His full splendor.”  Because of faith in the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Holy Spirit came to dwell in us so that our inner being is empowered by resurrection power of our Lord Jesus.  Let’s keep ourselves focused on adoring our Lord Jesus so that we walk in the divine resurrection power given to us by faith.  Amen!

Fruitful Lives in Christ

 “and seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Mark wrote, “He noticed a leafy fig tree in the distance, so he walked over to see if there was any fruit on it, but there was none—only leaves (for it wasn’t yet the season for bearing figs).”  The fig tree is first mention when Adam and Eve used fig leaves as a “covering” to hide their nakedness when they fell into sin.  It also became a hiding place for Zacchaeus, who climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus.  The tree with leaves but no fruit can also be a symbol of the religious system that was in Israel at that time.  From here Jesus went  to drive out the money changers from the temple, who were rotten fruit.  Jesus said, “For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.”  Jesus ensured through the Feast of Firstfruits that the Holy Spirit will empower every believer to have a fruitful life.  The Holy Spirit helps us to abide in Jesus Who said, ““I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”  Let’s be the fruitful branch that bears much fruit.  Amen!

Faithful to the New Covenant of our God

 “To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The wisdom from above says, “Only wisdom can save you from the flattery of the promiscuous woman— she’s such a smooth-talking seductress! She left her husband and has forgotten her wedding vows.”  Clearly a warning to all those who commit adultery, though there is a deeper meaning here.  The book of Proverbs tells us of two women: the adulteress and the virtuous woman at the end of this book.  Both are a parable of two systems in the Church.  One is religious and alluring, tempting the young anointed ones to come to her “bed” of compromise, and which nullifies the Word of God.  The other is the holy Bride, virtuous and pure, keeping her first love of her “wedding vows” to Christ alone.  Her “house” is the House of the Lord.  One system brings shame and despair and the other brings favour, honour and glory.  It is wisdom that protects us from one and unites us to the other.  As we approach the end of this age, may we be the faithful ones who are victorious as we persevere for our faith and may our names be found in the Book of Life.  Amen!